Alternative construction materials improved our live

arthquake survivors of Mahaankal

ERural Municipality in Lalitpur have started making bricks to reconstruct their houses destroyed by the devastating earthquake. Oxfam and its local partner trained 10 villagers to operate the machine to produce interlocked bricks.

Brick production has been started with the help of a local cooperative, Progressive Multi-Purpose Cooperative. “We pay Rs 20 per brick to workers as their wage,” said secretary of the cooperative, Bhim Prasad Dulal. He said that the total cost for a brick is Rs 40 including the wages and material cost. “The cooperative charges Rs 46 per brick to its members while others have to pay Rs 48 for each brick,” he informed. Dulal further said that the bricks meet the quality standards of the District Technical Office, Lalitpur, and can be used for reconstruction.

Manufacturing compressed stabilized earth bricks in Lalitpur. Photo by: Sudin Pradhan/Oxfam

Dulal has constructed a demonstration building using the reconstruction grant of the government with the same bricks. “I am delighted to build my own house using this technology so that others can see and replicate,” Dulal said, adding that the demand of bricks have increased lately and they are planning to hire more labours to fulfill the demand. A total of 150 people received the training last year. As of March 2018, 65 houses have been constructed using these bricks.

As of March 2018, 65 houses have been constructed using these bricks.